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'Love Actually' launched new stars, eventually

A look at some of the other stars of the classic ensemble rom-com that have fully emerged ten years later.

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Peter Mountain, Universal Studios

2003-2013

'Love Actually'

Love Actually featured some of the biggest film marquee names from Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and Keira Knightley when it was released in 2003.

But as the romantic comedy turns ten this month (featuring an anniversary Blu-Ray and DVD), the film is serving as a time capsule for the second wave of stars who are making an impact now -- such as Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, Andrew Lincoln and even January Jones.

Enjoy a look at some of the other stars fully emerged ten years later.

Peter Mountain, Universal Studios

'Peter'

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Onscreen Lincoln might have secretly been in love with Ejifor's wife (Knightley), but he's outwardly effusive about Ejiofor, now earning awards buzz from 12 Years a Slave. "Chiwetel has been out here doing astonishing work. But it's almost like you just discovered him," says Lincoln. "He's been one of my favorite actors all his career."

Peter Mountain, Universal Studios

'Mark'

Andrew Lincoln

Even as Sheriff Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead, Lincoln is still asked about his silent, but respectfully romantic tribute to his best friend's wife which became an instant classic. "There was no acting required," says Lincoln. "I just had to show up at the door. Perfect."

Peter Mountain, Universal Studios

'Jeannie - American Angel'

January Jones

A bevy of Wisconsin beauties who fall for Colin, a goofy Brit (Kris Marshall) included Elisha Cuthbert (24), January Jones (Mad Men's Betty Draper in blue) and Ivana Milicevic (Banshee).

"We just cracked up all day playing around with ridiculous ideas and lines to flirt with the Colin character," recalls Jones. "This movie is one of the films I'm most asked about and I was barely in it. It's a testament to the film and how many people it touched."

Peter Mountain, Universal Studios

'Sam'

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Playing Liam Neeson's stepson and a romantic muppet in love, the 13-year-old actor fell hard for a school classmate onscreen. He is now vying for power in as Jojen Reed in HBO's Game of Thrones.

Peter Mountain, Universal Studios

'John'

Martin Freeman

Freeman was already a well-respected star in the U.K. (the British version of The Office) when he starred as the mostly-nude stand-in for a porn flick. He'll return to Bilbo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug next month. "He's hobbiting around the world," says Lincoln. "And it's brilliant."'

Peter Mountain, Universal Studios

'Billy Mack'

Bill Nighy

Nighy's aging, outrageous rocker Billy Mack stole the holiday number one hit single onscreen and possibly the movie itself. He reteamed with Curtis as an eccentric father in the just-released romantic comedy About Time, which is closer to his true personality. "The rocker (Billy Mack) is the man Bill might have been if Bill had not got a grip," says Curtis.

Written by Bryan Alexander; Produced by John Elliot

Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
10:48 a.m. EST November 14, 2013

Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant. 'Love Actually' had big names when it came out in November 2003. But a new generation of stars has emerged as the romantic comedy turns 10.

When it was released in 2003, the romantic comedy Love Actually featured some of the biggest names in Hollywood of the day, including Hugh Grant, Emma Thompson and Keira Knightley.

But as it turns 10 this month and celebrates with the release of anniversary editions in Blue-ray and DVD, the film is serving as a time capsule for a second wave of stars who are making an impact now, including Chiwetel Ejiofor, Martin Freeman, Andrew Lincoln and January Jones.

"It's funny how the nature of the casting has changed," says writer-director Richard Curtis. "When we first did it, it was sort of 50% of people you knew and 50% people you didn't know. But now the naked guy in the movie is the Hobbit,'' he says, referring to Freeman's starring role as Bilbo Baggins in the Hobbit franchise. "It kind of looks strangely over-cast now."

Lincoln, who won the role of Mark, recalls that he, Ejiofor and Bill Nighy all performed in an English National Theatre play just before being cast in Love.

"I think Richard had seen the production and said 'Those three, get them in here,' " says Lincoln, who stars as Rick Grimes in AMC's The Walking Dead. "There's been maybe three roles in my career that have made me dance and bounce off walls when I got them. And Love Actually is definitely one of them."

Lincoln says he still is asked about his silent, but respectfully romantic tribute to his best friend's wife, which became an instant classic. "There was no acting required,'' he says. "I just had to show up at the door. Perfect.''

Love opened doors for many of his then-emerging co-stars as well, including:

- Chiwetel Ejiofor (Peter). Onscreen, Lincoln might have been secretly in love with Ejiofor's wife Juliet (Knightley), but today he's outwardly effusive about Ejiofor, who is generating awards buzz for his lead role in 12 Years a Slave. "Chiwetel has been out here doing astonishing work. But it's almost like you just discovered him," says Lincoln.

"We just cracked up all day playing around with ridiculous ideas and lines to flirt with the Colin character," recalls Jones. "This movie is one of the films I'm most asked about and I was barely in it. It's a testament to the film and how many people it touched."

•Thomas Brodie-Sangster (Sam). Playing Liam Neeson's stepson and a romantic moppetmuppet in love, the actor, then 13, fell hard for a school classmate. He is now vying for power as Jojen Reed in HBO's Game of Thrones.

• Martin Freeman (John).Freeman already was a well-respected star in the U.K. (thanks to the British version of The Office) when he starred in Love as the mostly-nude stand-in for a porn flick shoot. He returns to his Baggins role in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (out Dec. 13)."He's hobbiting around the world," says Lincoln, "and it's brilliant."'

• Bill Nighy (Billy Mack). In Love, Nighy's aging, outrageous rocker scored the No. 1 single for the holidays, and Nighy himself nearly stole the movie himself. He re-teamed with Curtis as an eccentric father in the just-released romantic comedy About Time, in which he plays a where the character who is is closer to his true personality. "The rocker is the man Bill might have been if Bill had not got a grip," says Curtis.

Looking back at the film, which has become a holiday staple, Lincoln realizes that "there were brilliant roles for all of us. It's the perfect story. And now I'm over here killing zombies."